Matt Flynn is chewing up the Lions secondary to the tune of 19-29-280-3 TD-1 INT-117.0 rating.

Stafford wasn't too shabby either, 16-29-199-2 TD-0 INT-99.0 rating. But he's also misfired on what should have been a pair of TD passes, and had another denied thanks to a bad call.

Time for the Lions to play over the bad calls. But a little help couldn't hurt.

Mind tossing a little Jebus the Lions way?

The Lions will start the half with the ball at the 20.

a pair of Smith runs leave the Lions facing 3rd and 1. Lions convert on a pitch to Logan, who was set up in the backfield, scampers the the 45!

MEGATRON! He runs a crossing pattern, rumbles for 30 yards! Lions at the Pack 25. Offense looking much sharper.

And so much for the drive. Stafford leads Burleson too much, mostly in part to bad footing as Burleson slipped on the cut, and the Packers pick him off.

Turf monster strikes again...

It's not the Lions' day. Seems the football, turf and reffing Gods all hate the Lions.

Pack with a 3rd and 2, a stop would be nice. Play fake, Flynn with lots of time...DROPPED by Jones at midfield. Lions dodge a bullet.

A lousy punt gives the Lions solid field position at their own 40. What? The Lions catch a BREAK? Well, I never...

Pitch to Burleson gets 9...FLAG. Clipping on Raiola. His 2nd personal foul of the game.

KILL ME NOW.

1st and 25 from the 25. Stafford says, "FUCK THAT NOISE." Drops a pass to Pettigrew in a seam for 27 yards and a 1st down!

Can't throw a ball much better than that.

Stafford to Megatron at 17!

ARRRGH. Stafford holds on to the ball too long, takes a sack...PILING ON! And it's called!

Channeling his inner Lion, apparently.

Personal foul, Packers! 1st and 10 Lions at the 14.

Bulreson gets 9, 2nd and 1 at the 4.

UGH, near pick on a throw to Scheffler. Bullet dodged.

Come on. Lions false start, move 'em back 5 yards. But the Pack commits a personal foul, hitting Stafford after the whistle...which was embellished just a tad.

It's called, "ACTING!"

NEED POINTS. Stafford wants Young at the goal line...

TOUCHDOWN LIONS!

Young's 2nd TD of the day has Lions back up by 2, 26-24!

Lions face 2nd and 7 from the 37 to start the 2nd. The Lions standard end around to Burleson gets the 1st down. OK, that's a start.

2nd and 10...FLAG. False start Lions, though it took thge refs a good minute to figure it out. Why? Hell if I know.

2nd and 15...Stafford has plenty of time, but overshoots Megatron.

3rd and 15...another overthrow, as Stafford misfires on a deep ball to Megatron.

'Nuff said...

Wendling makes a great play, keeping the punt from going into the end zone..then the Packers inexplicably touch, then fall on the ball, at the 5.

Wendling with a Pro Bowl play.
Too bad Lions don't make the Pro Bowl.

Not smart...then again, that's been the Packers' mantra on returns.

3rd and 5...heavy pressure...incomplete pass! Though the Pack want a flag, they aren't getting it. 

Lions with a block in the back on the return. Jebus. They'll start form their own 40 than the Packers' 45.

Stafford to Scheffler is complete inside the Packers' 45...Pack strips the ball...AFTER he's down.

That's a catch...

Refs miss it, and give the ball to the Packers. Awful fucking call. CHALLENGE FLAG COMING. And Schwartz throws it. 

FOX's "expert" Mike Pereira says it shouldn't be overturned, starts with the "process of the catch" BS...yet it is! Lions' 1st down at the Packers'

Billick and Brennaman are apologetic with Pereira, they were in agreement with him. WTF? MORONS, the lot of 'em.

Lions will face a 3rd and 3. Pass to Pettigrew is broken up.

Lions going for it! Burleson runs a slant, COMPLETE at the 29!

Pettigrew takes in pass, rumbles tot he 19, 1st down. Lions' offense coming to life.

2nd and 10...Burleson crossing at the 14.

3rd and 5...Megatron is open just over the goal line...

TOUCHDOWN LIONS!

It's a new franchise record, number 16 on the year for Megatron!

I was nervous the refs would go the process of the catch BS, as Johnson tossed the ball away almost immediately after coming down with the catch. WHEW.

Lions up 16-10, 8:18 left in the half.

Who says it's cold in Green Bay in December? Some of the Lions were working out shirtless in the sub-30 degree weather.

Are they playing shirts vs skins in Green Bay today?

We join the always crabby Thom Brennaman and the sometimes clueless ex-coach Brian Billick in the FOX booth. Wonderful. At least we'll be getting network A-teams in the playoffs. Yes, playoffs!

But before the playoffs begin, let's end the regular season in style...

The Packers get off to an awful start, nearly turning over Hanson's kickoff in the end zone. The muffed kick narrowly made it out of the back of the end zone. Touchback.

Matt Flynn comes out throwing...completes his 1st pass, the next 2 incomplete. Flynn wants to throw on 3rd and long...SACK! BALL!!!

Flynn meets Sammie Hill...

Hill hits Flynn, Tulloch recovers at the Packers' 35! 

Stafford to Megatron has the Lions inside the 10!

2nd and goal....Stafford to Young in the corner of the end zone...

TOUCHDOWN LIONS!

Just like that, 7-0 Lions. 

The Packers muff another kickoff, take a knee...THAT'S A SAFETY! The ball left the end zone, the return man pulled it back in, and took a knee!

WHOOPS!

It should be 2 points, but the play is under review...call stands! 9-0 Detroit Lions!

I imagine this is the look of your typical Packers fan at the moment...

Packers will punt...it's kicked...and the refs blow off the play. The ball was never made ready for play. Billick goes
off on the Packs' menal state, deservedly.

INACTIVES!

Lions:

Joique Bell - RB   
Aaron Berry - CB  
Leonard Davis - G  
Louis Delmas - FS 
Ricardo Silva - DB
Drew Stanton - QB  
Corey Williams - DT 

Packers:

Bryan Bulaga - OT 
Randall Cobb - WR  
Greg Jennings - WR  
Clay Matthews - OLB   
Aaron Rodgers - QB 
James Starks - RB   
Charles Woodson - CB  

All I can say is...advantage Lions! Sure, the Lions are down a couple of defensive starters to injury, but the Pack have all but waved the white flag, preferring to get their stars 2 weeks rest in preparation for the playoffs.

The planets have aligned.

The Packers have nothing to play for, and their lineup reflects it.

The Lions have everything to play for, as the difference between the 5th and 6th seed could be the difference in ending another streak. That being the Lions' 6 game playoff losing streak.

There's also the fact the Lions were snubbed in the Pro Bowl voting. I would love to see Matthew Stafford post huge numbers, just to make the NFL look that much worse in keeping him out of the Pro Bowl.

What better way to start a new year with some new streaks? Like starting a winning streak in Green Bay...

Before the Lions take on the Packers at Lambeau in their final game of the regular season, I thought I should review the last time the Lions won on the road in Green Bay.

The memories came flooding back once I checked out the box score.

The last time the Lions beat the Packers on the road, it was week 16 of the 1991 season, Sunday, December 15. It was a brutal winter afternoon, 10 degrees with a -6 wind chill.

The Lions were down 10-7 going into the 4th quarter, but pulled out a 21-17 win. The victory raised the Lions' record to 11-4, their 5 consecutive win in one of Wayne Fontes' patented late season bum rushes to the playoffs.

In a battle of journeyman QB's, the last Lion QB to win a playoff game, Erik Kramer out dueled career backup Mike Tomczak.

The weather affected the Lions passing game adversely, as Kramer was only 14-29-131, but he did throw a pair of TD passes.

One of the refugees of Wayne Fontes aborted run and shoot offense, tiny WR Robert Clark, caught those 2 TD passes.

The Lions leading receiver that day was Mike Farr, son of Lions legend Mel Farr, with 7 catches.

Hall of Fame RB Barry Sanders lead the rushing attack with 85 yards rushing and added 13 more receiving

Eddie Murray, in the last season of his great 12 year Lions career, kicked 3 PATs.

The awesome Mel Gray had an 89 yard punt return for a TD, which was ultimately the game winning score.

The underrated CB Ray Crockett added a pick.

Eccentric Jim "MAYDAY" Arnold punted 10 (!!) times, averaging 39.1 yards per kick.

Looking at the numbers, it's hard to believe the Lions won. The Pack out gained the Lions, 367-206. The Lions had 2 turnovers to the Packers' 1. But, as they say, "Scoreboard!"

Then again, the Lions were the vastly more talented team. They ul;timately won the laste, lamented NFC Central with a 12-4 record, while the Packers were still in their post-Lombardi funk, finishing 1991 at 4-12.

It was the final season in Green Bay for head coach Lindy Infante, who was replaced by Mike Holmgren in 1992...which was also the year the Pack acquired Brett Favre to be their QB. And the rest, as they say, is history.

The Lions went 2-3 years too long with Fontes, who could never get over the hump...or find a true franchise QB. Holmgren led the Packers to consecutive Super Bowl appearances in 1997 and 1998, becoming NFL champions in their second visit.

The Lions spun into irrelevance, the Packers became one of the NFL elite.

Finally, it's looking as if the tide has turned for the Lions. They go into today's game at 10-5, with a chance to lock lock down the 5th NFC playoff seed and end another embarrassing losing streak in the process. Teams don't go generations between victories on the road...well, they shouldn't, anyway.

I don't want to keep looking back at what woulda/coulda/shoulda have been. The time to end the road losing BS is now.

We've reached the end of a very long, sometimes trying, year. Hell, after all I had to deal with health-wise, I'm just happy to have survived 2011.

But no matter how you spend New Years Eve, be it at the wild parties I used to attend...

I'm sure most of you are doing something like this.

Or something closer to my celebration today...

It's 12:00:30? Lets go to bed.

I want to wish everyone a healthy and happy new year! Here's to a great 2012!

I'll be back to important football stuff tomorrow, when I hope to see something Lions fans haven't witessed in over 2 decades...a victory at Lambeau Field.

I know it's Thanksgiving themed...but a holiday is a holiday.

With the Lions finally breaking through the mediocrity barrier and becoming a playoff team under the tutelage of 3rd year head coach Jim Schwartz, I thought it would be interesting to look back at what might have been. 

After the end of the 2008 season, NFL head coaches were dropping like flies hit with DDT. In January 2009, a hiring binge took place. 11 teams, including the Lions, who had sent Rod Marinelli and his shovel packing, either promoted an interim coach or brought in someone new to take over as head coach. Jim Schwartz being one of the 11.

Under Schwartz, the Lions have moved in a steady progression, from 2, to 6, to 10 (possibly 11) wins. Schwartz has become a candidate for NFL coach of the year in the process.

So we all know what Schwartz has done in his 3 years. But what about the other 10 coaches who were hired in the same time frame?

Seahawks - Jim Mora Jr: In 2008, Mora was named both Seahawks' assistant head coach, and as Mike Holmgren's replacement before Holmgren's final season. Mora took over in 2009, led the Seahawks to a 5-11 record, then was unceremoniously canned in order to hire USC refugee Pete Carroll. Mora was recently hired to resuscitate UCLA as their new head coach.

Broncos - Josh McDaniels: Considered a coaching wunderkind as Patriots offensive coordinator, McDaniels was only 33 years old when the Broncos gave him a 4 year deal  in January 2009. His career started off like gangbusters, going 6-0 to start the 2009 season...then the Broncos dropped off a cliff, finishing 2-8 in the 2nd half of 2009. McDaniels didn't even make it 2 years into the contract, getting fired 12 games into the 2010 season with a 3-9 record, 11-17 overall. McDaniels (who is also the man to blame/praise for the drafting of TIM TEBOW) is currently the offensive coordinator for the Rams under another coach who was hired for the 2009 season, and now in deep trouble, Steve Spagnuolo.

Raiders - Tom Cable: 4 games into 2008, after a very public pissing match, Raiders' head coach Lane Kiffin got the ziggy from Al Davis. Cable was named interim coach, finishing the season 4-8. Davis removed the interim tag in February 2009. Cable made more news for breaking the jaw of one of his assistant coaches in a fight than anything his Raiders did on the field. Cable went 5-11 in 2009, 8-8 in 2010, and was summarilly fired by Davis. He's now the offensive line coach for Pete Carroll and the Seahawks.

49ers - Mike Singletary: Was named interim coach of the Niners when Mike Nolan was fired after 7 games in 2008. Singletary led the Niners to a 5-4 record, and had the interim tag removed at the end of the season. Singletary made more news arguing with and benching players while acting like a loon than he did winning games. Singletary was 8-8 in 2009, then canned with 1 game left in the 2010 season with a 5-10 record. Singletary is now making his googly eyes with the Vikings, as linebackers/assistant head coach for Leslie Frazier, who is on the hot seat himself.

Browns - Eric Mangini: Mangini parlayed a single playoff season in 3 years as Jets head coach into a 4 year deal with the Browns in January 2009. Mangini spun his wheels in Cleveland with back-to-back 5-11 seasons, and was fired after the 2010 season. The Mangenius is now a talking head for ESPN.

Chiefs - Todd Haley: Another very hot name after the 2008 season, thanks to Haley being the offensive coordinator for the Super bowl losing Cardinals. Hired by the Chiefs in February 2009, went 4-12 in his first season. Stepped up with a 10-6 record in 2010, making the playoffs but losing in the wild card round. Big things were expected in 2011, but Haley was fired at mid-season with a disappointing 5-8 record. Haley is now at home counting the money received from the remainder of his 4 year contract.

Rams - Steve Spagnuolo: The hottest of NFL coaching names after the 2008 season as the Giants' defensive coordinator, Spagnuolo was a rumored candidate for several head coach openings, including the Lions'. The Rams won the Spagnuolo sweepstakes, giving him a 4 year deal in January 2009. Coaching in the NFL's weak sauce NFC West, Spagnuolo was 1-15 in 2009, earning the 1st over all draft pick. The Rams narrowly missed winning the division at 7-9 in 2010. Instead of taking a Lions-like leap forward in 2011, the Rams are in midst of another fight for the 1st over overall draft selection, their record currently standing at 2-13. Reports out of St. Louis say Spagnuolo is a dead coach walking, and will be fired at the end of the season.

Bucs - Raheem Morris: Hired to be Jon Gruden's defensive coordinator in December 2008 for the upcoming 2009 season, Morris was elevated to the top job after Chucky was surprisingly canned in late January 2009, after most every other NFL head coaching job had been filled. Morris was 3-13 in his first year, but narrowly missed the playoffs in 2010 (much in thanks to a week 15 OT loss to Schwartz and the Lions), finishing 10-6. The Bucs were expected to take the next step, making the playoffs in 2011. Morris started the season 4-2, and all looked good. But the Bucs have undergone a complete and utter meltdown since week 7, losing 9 straight, getting blown out in the their last 4. Word is Bucs’ ownership is ready to move on after the late season el-foldo, and Morris will be relieved of his duties at seasons end.

Colts - Jim Caldwell: The question with Caldwell is simple. Was his early success only due to the previous regime, led by a  hall of fame head coach and QB? In 2008, Tony Dungy announced the coming season would likely be his last as Colts head coach. Caldwell was Dungy's long-time offensive assistant, and named as Dungy's successor before the 2008 season began. In 2009, Caldwell inherited one of the best teams in football, ending the regular season 14-2, but losing the Super Bowl. In 2010, the Colts were 10-6, and lost in the wild card round. Without an injured Peyton Manning for all of 2011, Caldwell's Colts started the season 0-13, and are 2-13 going into week 17. Caldwell is definitely on the hot seat, his job in jeopardy, but will likely remain in Indianapolis by the skin of his teeth. With the Colts having gone into a tailspin, Caldwell will be on a very short leash if he returns in 2012.

Jets - Rex Ryan: Overweight, extremely controversial, likes to run his mouth and make foot fetish videos...but Ryan wins games. Ryan made his name as defensive coordinator for the Ravens, but missed out on the open head jobs in early 2008. In January 2009, he was given a 4 year contract by the Jets to replace...the aforementioned Mangenius. Ryan led the Jets to the AFC Championship game in 2009 (9-7 regular season record) & 2010 (11-5), only to lose both. Ryans' Jets have a long-shot chance at a 2011 wild card with 8-7 record, his mouth yapping the entire time.

So, out of the 11 coaches hired in the 6 weeks following the end of the 2008 season, the only 2 who are completely safe in their jobs are Jim Schwartz and Rex Ryan. Odds are Caldwell will barely hold on to his gig, thanks to the Manning injury deflecting much of the blame for a rotten season. But Spagnuolo and Morris are all but assured to join the other 6 on the NFL coaching scrap heap.

Lets call the record for 2009 NFL coaching hires 2-8-1. If you're feeling generous, 3-8. Either way, it's not a very good winning percentage. It shows just how difficult it is to strike coaching gold in the NFL.

Despite the success of Ryan, who inherited a much, much better team (the Jets were 9-7 in 2008, with a top 5 pick in the 2009 draft), it really looks as if the Lions had the best hire of the 11 teams. He's done the most with the least, building what had been an 0-16 team into one with a very bright future.

When was the last time you could say the Lions made a great coaching hire? You would have to go back to Joe Schmidt in 1967. The Hall of Fame linebacker, despite having a winning career record as a head coach, walked away from the dysfunctional Lions after the 1972 season in order to keep his own sanity.

Looking back, some Lions' coaching hires were thought to be highly pedigreed, but turned out to be God awful fits (Monte Clark, Bobby Ross, Seve Mariucci). Others were bad from the get-go (Darryl Rogers, Marty Mornhinweg, Rod Marinelli). Some were completely clueless hires (Rick Forzano, Tommy Hudspeth, Wayne Fontes). A few had the job thrust upon them for only a short time (Gary Moeller, Dick Jauron). And one passed away (Don McCafferty).

Meaning there was a 42 year span between what appears to be honest to God well-researched, quality coaching hires by the Lions, from Schmidt to Schwartz.

About damn time.

UPDATE 12/28/11: The odds Stafford will get into the Pro Game have become minuscule, as he's actually 3rd alternate.

@DaveBirkett of the Freep:

Stafford is 3rd alternate at NFC QB, after Cam Newton & Tony Romo. Jim Schwartz pointed out today that Aaron Rodgers wasn't selected last yr

My reaction? Throw hands up in air, then walk away from computer screen muttering about the ridiculousness of All-Star Game rosters....

ORIGINAL POST: The NFC Pro Bowl roster has been released, and despite having a breakout playoff season as a team, only one member of the Detroit Lions made the team.

Tim Twentyman at DetroitLions.com:

For a second consecutive season, Lions receiver Calvin Johnson is Pro Bowl bound.

Johnson, 26, has emerged as one of the games most elite offensive weapons.

He is having one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history with 85 catches for 1,437 yards and 15 touchdowns with a game against the Packers still remaining on the schedule Sunday.

Johnson led all NFL receivers in fan voting and finished fourth overall among all positions – AFC and NFC – with more than one million votes.

Megatron being named to the team was a no-brainer. It would have been criminal to leave the NFL's best wide out off the roster.

But there was also bad news...

Named alternates were DT Ndamukong Suh, S Louis Delmas, and most surprisingly and depressingly, QB Matthew Stafford. A case can also be made for DE Cliff Avril, who isn't even an alternate.

But Stafford not making the roster is a massive snub, regardless of the other selections. So just who were the three QB's named to the Pro Bowl instead of Stafford?

1. The Packers' Aaron Rodgers. He's having a season for the ages, and will be NFL MVP, no complaints from me.

2. The Saints' Drew Brees. He broke Dan Marino's single season yardage record in 15 games, he's quite deserving.

3. The Giants' Eli Manning. He is...huh...WHAT?

Cue spit take...

Manning over Stafford isn't a snub, it's a travesty.

You could easily make a case for Stafford (or Tony Romo, Matt Ryan and even likely rookie of the year Cam Newton) over Manning, and win.

This is the typical reasoning you get from NFL mouthpieces in making a case for Manning.

Michael Lombardi of the NFL Network:

Both Brees and Rodgers have been great, and Manning has been just as good. He has had to carry the Giants while they have dealt with all the injuries and no run game.

Manning has been as good as Rodgers and Brees (Or Stafford/Romo/Ryan/Newton)? Seriously? Becasue the numbers say otherwiae.

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2011

If anything, Stafford has had to do just as much, if not more, than Manning in compensating for the lack of a running game. Again...numbers!

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2011.

Not much, if any, difference...yet Manning gets the accolades, Stafford the cold shoulder. This has to be a case of a past Pro Bowl selection getting in on momentum, or in other words, laizness of the voting players and coaches.

As an alternate, Stafford still has a chance to make the game, as the starting QB of the NFC's Super Bowl representative will be replaced. But I doubt it, as he's NOT the 1st alternate. 

Cue ANOTHER spit take...

Via Twitter, the Freep's Dave Birkett:

More on Pro Bowl: Cam Newton is 1st alternate at QB per Charlotte Observer. Means he'd go b4 Stafford as replacement bit.ly/ssMtzS

First Manning, then Newton? Rodney Dangerfield got more respect than Matthew Stafford received from the NFL tonight. 

Stafford could make the snub moot, and lead the Lions the promised land himself. It could happen. Hey, if Eli Manning can make the Pro Bowl...

No matter the reasons behind the selection (East coast bias, NFL wanting a Manning, any damn Mannning in the game), Manning's selection to the Pro Bowl (and Newton being named 1st alternate) over the more deserving Matthew Stafford is ridiculous.

I have to admit, it really shows how far the Lions have come when I can generate so much righteous indignation over a meaningless joke of an exhibtion. But it's all about respect...and the Lions get next to none with only one player being named to the Pro Bowl.

Detroit fans received an early gift on Christmas Eve with the Lions making the playoffs for the first time in this century, since 1999 to be exact. 12 years is a long damn time. In NFL years, it's eons. 1999 might just as well be 1899. 

Things have changed for this franchise. Which means my attitude should as well.

Something all Lions fans are guilty of is dwelling on past failures instead of focusing on today. I'm definitely guilty. I need to remember correlation does not equal causation. Mistakes made years ago should not reflect where the franchise is today. Just because the Lions did A in 2000 (or 1990...1980...and so on) doesn't mean B is destined to happen tomorrow.

Matt Millen? He's long gone. Russ Thomas is just a memory, nothing more. It's all in the past. I'd rather look forward than back...though I'm sure I'll find myself slipping at times. I'm a Lions fan, for better or worse...and I think things are getting much, much better.

The talent on this Lions squad should confirm it. The Lions are a good team with a very bright future.

With that said, I just wanted to wish everyone out there in the web ether a Merry Christmas. I sincerely hope your day was as fun as mine.

I very much appreciate your readership. Thank you and GO LIONS!

The Lions have a good sized lead...but I'm trying not to get too worked up. Still awful nervous.

Bolts driving, at the Lions 45.

Rivers to throw...Jackson open near the 30...DROP. 

Deep ball to Creighton...caught out of bounds.

3rd and 10...Swing pass to Tolbert gets 5, Durant with the big hit!.

4th and 5, Bolts will go for it. Gates out wrestles Wright for the catch, gets 6 yards. ACK!

12:40 left in the game.

Rivers wants it all...double coverage in the end zone....incomplete! 

Bolts with a 3rd and 3 from the Lions' 27, Lions call a TO with 11:53 left.

FUCK. Floyd with the catch at the 3. Rivers had all afternoon to pick a receiver.

1st and goal throw...incomplete. Yes.

2nd and goal throw...incomlete. Pass was behind Tolbert! Fuck yes!

3rd and goal throw....incomplete! Houston with tight coverage in the back corner! YEAH!

4th and goal throw...Jackson at the goal line....INCOMPLETE!!!  AHHHHHH!

Not today!

Lions' D with the HUGE goal line stand! They'll take over at their own 3 with 10:59 left!

FLAG. Pettigrew false start. GRRRR.

After a pair of runs get the Lions out of the shadow of the goal line, they face 3rd and 2 from the 11. Under 10 minutes left.

Stafford in the gun....wants Young deep...CAUGHT! 24 yards and a 1st down at the 35! Huge play by Young.

Lions trying to run clock, Smith to the 40 between the tackles. 3rd and 5.

Clock running, under 8 minutes left.

Crap. Stafford's throw was tipped at the line. Lions will punt.

CBS crew complaining about chippiness on both sides. But nothing has escalated into stupidity...so, hooray?

7:18 left. This game has turned into a clock watching exercise for fans.

Chargers 3rd and 4 from their 35. Swing pass to Tolbert gets all of a yard. Bolts going for it on 4th and 3.

Floyd gets 4 on a crossing pattern. GAH.

Clock running, 5:40 left.

Tolbert busts his way to midfield...but the Lions will give them the short stuff between the hashes for the remainder of the game, it keeps the clock running.

3rd and 1...Matthews gets the 1st...but the clock continues to tick away, now under 5 minutes. They take a TO with 4:50 left.

Twitter reports have the fans at Ford Field chanting, "PLAY-OFFS!" Been awhile, huh?

Out of the TO, Rivers wants it all....jump ball...

HOUSTON....PICKPICKPICK!

Houston returns the INT to the 45! There's under 4 minutes left!

YES!

The Lions hand the ball off 3 consecutive times, drive ends facing a 4th and 2. Bolts take their 2nd TO with only 3:05 remaining.

Graham's punt lands at the 5...downed at the 2! 

2:56 left in the game...and until the Lions make the playoffs!

Rivers to throw from the 2...AVRIL LEAPS...PICKPICKPICK!!!!!

AVRIL STROLLS INTO THE END ZONE! 

38-10 Lions with 2:28 left! I'm calling it...GAME OVER, MAN.

Bill Paxton knows the game is over...

The Lions are 2 minutes away from the playoffs, as it's...

Clock running, Bolts running out of time, Lions are looking for the Gatorade on the sidelines.

And the Lions nail Schwartz with with 0:28 left...

THAT'S IT!  Lions win 38-10! The drought is over! The curse of Millen has ended!

The Lions are in the playoffs for the first time since 1999. And Lions fans will be partying like it's the Prince song!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, GO LIONS!

Enjoy the Lions Kool-Aid everyone!